By Kayla Brown, Staff Writer
For merely seconds last month lights went out, refrigerator’s stopped humming and TV’s shut off on campus due to a power outage during brutal winter winds.
The longest power outage on campus was four hours, according to Director of Facilities Management Christopher Bailey. It was the result of a car accident during a spring afternoon a couple of years ago. Due to the timing, night classes were canceled.
As Susquehanna was not the only location affected, university officials were unaware of the length of time it would take for the power to come on. In fact, over 20,000 people in Snyder County were without power, according to Angelo Martin, director of Public Safety.
The school is now paying PPL Electric Utilities to keep them updated during electrical and power events. This will allow Public Safety and the university to keep students informed.
As the climate changes, the risk of electrical events increases. Extreme heat and cold taxes the power sources which can lead to more power outages.
The main advice that Martin and Bailey gave for these situations was to remain calm, stay put and not to scream or yell.
If the outage is campus wide, Public Safety should already be aware of the event, so it is not necessary to call them. However, if it is a localized event, meaning it is unique to one room or location, then it is best to get in touch with them.
One possibility to provide power on campus is renewable energy from the solar array officially implemented last fall.
Bailey explained that the solar farm powers 30% of the campus. The other 70% of campus is on a different grid, which means in the event of an emergency, only certain parts could be powered.
Understanding that the solar power farm only covers a small portion of the campus, the university can use a portable generator to power certain buildings on campus. The generator can run for at least eight hours at full power. The generator powers only some utilities not including heating or air.
One of the few buildings that will get more power is the Natural Sciences Center, as there are live animals that need to be in certain environments as they would be otherwise compromised.
Garret Sports Complex, which is big enough to house students during power outages and contains showers and bathrooms, would be the main target for the generator.
Bailey explained, “We would tell you all to bring your sleeping bags.”
The other place that runs, even without the main power source, is the dining hall. Meals would be basic: sandwiches and sides and would be given as a bagged meal for students to take with them. The bag would contain enough food to last for the projected outage time.
All students should have a supplemental flashlight – one that is not their phone – a backup battery pack for their phones, and food that doesn’t require refrigeration or a microwave. Candles are not an acceptable replacement for the flashlight, even in an emergency according to Bailey.
